I have also been enjoying creating more video artist profiles for NewMusicBox. The two below feature composers Nat Evans and Matthew Burtner, both of whom make totally unique, compelling music that is directly influenced by the natural world.

This is also something that I have found to be extremely helpful when composing—once a work is “finished,” I put it away for a while (at least a few days and preferably a couple of weeks) and then revisit it for final edits. Usually, small things I hadn’t noticed before jump off the page yelling “Fix me! Fix me!” and when massaged a bit, make the composition stronger. For me the changes often involve extending choice lines and/or phrases; when I’m in the throes of composing, my brain gets impatient and wants to move on to other ideas too quickly, but from a distanced viewpoint it’s easy to hear when a bit of material just needs to be stretched a little. I realize that the opposite is true for many composers, but my lifelong battle with both music and words lies in the general need to expand rather than contract. (I come from a quiet people.)

Clearly, allowing for this sort of extra time in our world of constant deadlines and rush is not always—or, let’s be honest, hardly ever—possible, but I’m determined to work this stewing time into my composing schedule. It’s slightly easier to do with the writing of words, but it’s a serious challenge for composers who tend to work right up to a deadline. Finishing work on time is one thing, but finishing something early? Oof. Somehow I need to trick my brain into believing that the firm deadline for a work is actually a couple of weeks before it actually needs to be finished. Like when you tell people who are always late for meetings that the start time is 30 minutes before the actual meeting! For many years I have used this formula for scheduling purposes (and indeed, most things that need doing in life):

How long I think this project will take x 3 = How long this project will actually take

…it should probably be amended to the formula:

How long I think this project will take x 3 + 1 solid week away from project + 1 solid week-long editing period = How long this project will actually take

Any advice/thoughts/tips on this issue, or on managing deadlines in general are welcome—see you in the comments section!

Part 1: Locking Down the End Game
Part 2: Unlikely Collaborators
Part 3: Final Thoughts

The trip overall was wonderful and exhausting and surreal. To be honest the idea of writing even more makes me want to take a nap, so how about some pictures? (Courtesy of Jerry and Lois Photography.)

Here is the whole Seattle Symphony gang in action!

Alan White played his glass drum set!! GLASS. DRUM. SET. Did I mention that it’s made of glass?

I just love this picture of Alan and conductor Ludovic Morlot (who by the way is a dream to work with).

The audience is roaring, and I am relieved that I made it to the stage and shook all the proper hands without falling on my face!

Backstage after the concert with Alan and electric bassist Bernt Bodal. This photo should really be captioned “Three blondes walk into a bar…”

Now I am slowly piecing my life back together (!) and looking forward to some very fun projects coming up in 2013. Happy Holidays to all!

Check it out! And definitely subscribe to their podcasts – they always have something interesting going on.

Thanks CCO! You Chicago folks should check out their concerts for sure—the programming is always interesting and fun!

The front yard in March!

Technically, it’s probably safe to say that here on the Mid-Atlantic coast we experienced spring for most of winter, but even so, it was a very nice thing to throw open the windows this week, and putter around the house in shorts and flip-flops—the first sockless days of spring are very exciting! To add to this annual bit of exuberance, yesterday brought the confluence of Cinco de Mayo, Kentucky Derby and SUPERMOON. What does one drink on such a day? Bourbon? Tequila? Tang?! Hmmm.

Life is a little nutty right now (this happens in the final throes of a big composition) so I can’t write much, but I wanted to alert you to some concerts and other fun things! Next Sunday, May 13th, there will be two performances of my work in New York (by hotshot musicians, on interesting and varied programs), and while I am not able to attend either because I will be in Seattle (a good problem to have), you should definitely consider checking them out. They are even spaced appropriately so that one could spend the afternoon in Queens, and then visit Manhattan in the evening.

Also, to further bask in the arrival of spring I made you a mixtape! This is one of my favorite things to do—I used to make them around New Year’s for friends and family, but now I get to do it on a semi-regular basis for everyone! Download and enjoy!

Recently on NewMusicBox:
Bricks and Mortar
The Dangers of Dopamine
Effortless Music
David Froom: Trusting the Connections
Fear Factor

Assorted other happy things:
Although I haven’t really jumped on board the whole tumblr thing yet, this one is hilarious!
Newsletters that arrive every Sunday from this website never fail to deliver inspiration.

Thanks to Alvaro Gallegos for the heads up! It made my day.

One of the best things from last week involved complaints from medieval scribes and copyists. It wasn’t easy being a monk.

And in case you missed the “convo/troversy” on NewMusicBox last week, I encourage you to read every bit, including the comments. Especially the comments. I am thrilled not only that people have been so thoughtful, articulate, and civil (there are grown-ups on the internet!), but also that so many new faces have entered into the dialogue.

Here is a project that is teaching children how to do just that, but from an opposing angle. Much more fun than my childhood quiet times I must say, and a wonderfully creative approach to music education:

***

On NewMusicBox last week, I wrote a short essay to honor International Women’s Day (which is kind of silly because as far as I’m concerned IWD is every day). In response to the suggestion that everyone celebrate Annea Lockwood-style by burning, sinking or planting a piano, another Lockwood fan alerted me to this!

Now that is my kind of party!

This is an interview with Janice Giteck (accompanied by the full transcript):

And this is an essay about a CD collection of music by the late Eleanor Hovda, whose music is crazy and amazing:

Sounds Heard—Eleanor Hovda: The Eleanor Hovda Collection

Be sure to check them out!

Also recently on NewMusicBox:

Creative Juice
Composer Biographies (Famous Author Edition)
Accidental Audience

Come in, come in! There has been a little spring cleaning happening around here. Have a look around, listen to some music (happily, you iPad worshippers out there can listen now too!), read some posts (you could even go crazy and subscribe to the rss feed), and feel free to stay as long as you like.

Enjoy!